The disciples had been through an ordeal. They had watched their beloved Lord brutally killed. He was now dead and buried. For a couple days, they grieved. Imagine how sad they were. Silence filled the room. Darkness invaded their hearts. Then on Sunday, the women they cherished burst in to tell them the good news: the tomb was empty. He was very much alive. Is that true? Could it be? They went to investigate, but the doubts still surfaced. Then on that very night, as they were all together (except one - Thomas), He appeared to them. They saw Him. They talked to Him. They ate with Him.
Later when Thomas arrived, they told him what had happened. Every disciple and all the women had the same story. Not one contradiction. He was here, Thomas. He's alive. But Thomas would not believe unless he saw for himself. Unless he could put his hands into His pierced side. No! He would not believe. As the story goes, Jesus came back and Thomas was with the disciples this time. He saw, he touched, AND he believed. "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus says, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me!"
Here's the thing... you and I believed without actually seeing Jesus. After coming to Jesus, we've witnessed transformation, new eyes, a new heart, and a movement in our lives we cannot explain. But we have never actually put our eyes on Him. Someone told us the Good News, and we heard the accounts of the resurrected Jesus, but we never really saw Him. In spite of it, though, we BELIEVED! Jesus says to you and me that we will be blessed because of it.
My encouragement to you is to keep believing. We do not want a nickname like Doubting Thomas to follow us. His Word should be enough for us. There were many who witnessed His resurrection and they told everyone about it. This should be enough for you and me. Believe in His power when you're feeling weak, believe in His love when you're facing rejection, believe in His justice when you are wronged, believe in His healing when you're sick, believe in goodness when all you see is evil. All Jesus wants from us is to BELIEVE. Our belief warrants a great blessing. Hope this encourages you today.